News from September 2020


Secret Service Announces Cyber Investigation Advisory Board

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, the United States Secret Service announced its Cyber Investigations Advisory Board (CIAB). The CIAB is the Secret Services first ever investigations-focused federal advisory committee, specifically focused on providing outside strategic guidance to shape the Secret Services investigative efforts in its investigations of cybercrime and cyber-enabled fraud.


Russian Project Lakhta Member Charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy

News Release: A criminal complaint was filed today charging a Russian national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to use the stolen identities of real U.S. persons to open fraudulent accounts at banking and cryptocurrency exchanges.


Secret Service Hosts Cyber Incident Response Simulation

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Secret Service hosted a virtual Cyber Incident Response Simulation with state and municipal government officials focused on ransomware attack and mitigation strategies. The training was the fourth of its kind and the second virtual event aimed at the agencys Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF) partners.


Treasury Sanctions Russian Cyber Actors for Virtual Currency Theft

News Release: Washington- Today, in a coordinated action with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two Russian nationals for their involvement in a sophisticated phishing campaign in 2017 ...


Russian Nationals Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud Multiple Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Their Customers

News Release: Defendants Allegedly Perpetrated World-Wide Attacks on Cryptocurrency Platforms and


Waterbury Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Counterfeit Check Bank Fraud Scheme

News Release: John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONELL BONILLA, 26, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for operating a counterfeit check bank fraud scheme.


Chicago Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing

News Release: Defendant used information to fuel lavish spending


Waterbury Man Sentenced to 66 Months in Federal Prison

News Release: John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Pedro Santos, 47, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and cocaine.


The U.S. Attorney Announces the Indictment of 17 Gun Offenders As Part Of The Justice Department's Project Guardian" Initiative

News Release: CHARLOTTE, N.C. Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced today the return of federal indictments against 17 individuals charged with federal firearms violations.


Georgia Woman Who Allegedly Preyed on Vulnerable South Florida Seniors to Steal More than $1 MillionCharged in Federal Court West Palm Beach

News Release: Miami, Fl. -- South Florida federal prosecutors have charged a 41-year-old Georgia woman with fraud and identity theft crimes for allegedly leading a scam that tricked over 250 elderly South Floridians into turning over their credit cards, debit cards, and related personal identification numbers. According to the charges, defendant and her co-conspirators used the cards and PINs to steal over $1 million.


Boca Raton Doctor Pleads Guilty to $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

News Release: Tampa, Florida Dr. Richard Davidson (41, Boca Raton) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Davidson has also agreed to forfeit $2,472,087 to the United States, which represents the proceeds he obtained through the commission of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.


Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Heroin

News Release: John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRELL CAMPBELL, also known as Bricks, 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and heroin.


Davidson Duo Sentenced in Counterfeit Currency Case

News Release: Defendants Ordered to Pay Over $200,000 in Restitution


Council Bluffs Man Pleads Guilty to Multistate Scheme to Defraud Auto Parts Dealers

News Release: United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Richard Lang, age 43, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, pleaded guilty in federal court today in Omaha, Nebraska, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lang faces up to five years in prison. Senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp will sentence Lang following the completion of a presentence report. Daniel Hendrickson, one of Langs co-conspirators, pleaded guilty to the same crime on July 28, 2020, in federal court in Omaha.


Raleigh County Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. Natalie P. Cochran, 39, of Daniels, pled guilty in federal court today to fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Cochran, a Raleigh County pharmacist and owner of two companies in Beckley - Technology Management Solutions (TMS) and Tactical Solutions Group (TSG) - ...


Computer Programmer Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Making False Statements About His Involvement in the Silk Road Website

News Release: Michael R. Weigand Concealed Role in the Silk Road Website, IncludingProviding Technological Advice Directly to Silk Roads Principals


Federal Authorities Announce More Seizures in Ongoing Effort to Combat COVID-19 Fraud Schemes

News Release: To Date, the U.S. Attorneys Office Has Recovered over $325,600 in Fraud


Corona Woman Sent Back to Prison for Executing Celebrity-Based Scam Soon After Release from Custody in Prior Fraud Cases

News Release: LOS ANGELES A Corona woman who recently completed a 79-month federal prison sentence stemming from a $15 million bank fraud scheme was ordered back to prison on Monday for executing a similar fraud scheme in which she lied to a victim about celebrities such as LeBron James supporting her supposed venture.


ATM Skimming Group Arrested on Federal Charges

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Adrian Kiraly, a/k/a Bighi,Andrei Andrei, a/k/a Tony, Bogdan Ardei, Nelu Onica, Vergiu Corneliu Galbenu, a/k/a Cornel, Ovidiu Meczak, a/k/a Ovi, Nedal Al-Khomos, Ovidiu Gabriel Musteata, and ...


Leader of Nationwide Credit Card Fraud Affecting Thousands of Account Holders Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. The leader of a multi-million dollar conspiracy that used stolen credit card account information to make fraudulent retail purchases around the country was sentenced today to 110 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.